Process for casting artificial teeth.



H. A. WIENAND.

PROCESS FOR UA$TING ARTIFICIAL TEETH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1912.

1,082,058. Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

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Specification of tenderness.

Patented neeeaieis.

This invention relates to an improved.

process for casting artificial teeth, which are usually made ofporcelain or some similar substance, which is pressed in the plasticstate into metal molds or dies. The method hitherto employed has usuallybeen to make a sand or :plaster mold of the pattern which has usuallybeen a natural or an artificial tooth, and to cast a metal tooththerefrom or to cut out a steel pattern of the tooth. The metal toothwas then im- V tice, I find that good results may be obtained.

.whichnis then coated with a coverm pressed on a plaster block and afemale, laster or like pattern was produced ther W cm.

This female pattern was used to cast amet-al mold of brass or the like.When steel patterns were out, the steel has been driven-or late .to"

pressed into openings in a brass form a mold for the artificial teetAccording to the present inventiomthis process is very much simplifiedand cheapened by employing electrolytic methods for producin the mold.By this method, I am also ab e to produce a number of sizes of teethfrom a single original.

According to this invention, I make 'a metallic duplicate of theoriginal and form a mold therefrom by eleotrodeposition, while I mayremove the metallic duplicate from the bath at various periods to obtainlarger sizes of such metallic teeth. In pracby employing a compositionof lead and zinc forthe metallic du Heats and the metal deposited onthis. dup icate by electrolytic means is conveniently nickel.

.In carrying out the invention in practice, the original 1s pressed in asand or plaster mold and the molten composition of lead and zinc ispoured into thls mold. I thus obtain a metallic duplicate of theoriginal. This duplicate is then suspended in an electrolytic bath.After a convenient period, say two hours, I may remove the duplicalxfa onickel and is consequently larger. his coated duplicate I may press in asand or like mold to obtain a second metal tooth of larger size than theoriginal. met-a1 duplicate is then returned to the bath The coated andthe process of deposition continues.

This process may be arrested at further intervals to obtain "furtherenlarged metallic copies. The deposition is continued for'several daysuntil a substantial thickness --of nickel has been deposited on themetallic duplicate. Conveniently an 'entire set is treated at one time.The thidkly coated tooth is then removed and placed in a molding box. Asuitable metal base is then run into the box and the metal duplicatesare-extracted. With the metals mentioned, this extraction is easilyeffected and there is left behind a clean clear metal mold of nickelwith a backing of other" suitable metal or composition as for instance,lead or lead and zinc. The plastic mass of which the articial teeth areformed, is then pressed into the nickel lined cavities of the mold.

The-invention will be more readily understood from the iollowindescription given by way of example an with reference "to theaccompanying illustrative in which:-

Figure 1, shows the metal duplicate suspended in the electrolytic bath.Fig.2, is a section showing the thickly coated metal teeth placed in thebox with the backingin position. .Fig. 3, shows the finished mold.

ig. 4, shows a tooth removed from the bath at an intermediate stage inthe coating process.

In carrying the invention into efiect according to one form, a metalzpattern -or duplicate a, is produced from the original. This metal dulicate is conveniently made in a mixture of Bead and zinc. The metalduplicate so formed is treated in an electrowhich is placed an annularanode of ni el- 0. Upon the upper edges of the vat are arranged thestandards or like su ports (1, adapted to carry a conducting r6 6, fromwhich is suspended by suitable cords a carrier f, serving as a meanswhereby the metal duplicate is suspended. The nickel anode c, iselectrically connected by the wire it, with the positive terminal of t 0battery or plating dynamo g, the negative terminal being electrlcallconnected with the conducting rod e. T e conducting rod 6, is alsoelectrically connected in an suitable manner for example by means 0 thewire In, with the metal duplicate. In use, the current is switched on,whereupon, nickel is electrolytically deposited upon the surfaces of themetal duplicate. After a, convenient period, say two hours, theduplicate, coated with nickel Z, for example" see Fig. 4, may be removedand pressed into sand or other material to produce a mold for obtaininga sec-.

. box up. A suitable metal, alloy or composition is run into the moldinbox and serves, on setting, .as a base at. he metal duplicate isthenextracted, leaving behind a clean clear metallic mold having as shown inFig. 3, a nickel surface and a backing of other suitable metal, alloy orcomposition, for. example, lead, or lead and zinc. The mold so formedis' then ready to receive the plastic mas; employed for producing theartificial teet It will be understood that the invention is not limitedto the particular construction shown in the drawings, neither is itlimited to the use of the material specified for producing the metalduplicate, or backing;

While further it must be understood that metals other than nickel may beemployed as the material to be deposited in which case of course theanode, and electrolyte of the electrolytic apparatus will be differentfrom those described.

I claim: 1. The method of manufacture of artificial teeth which consistsin pressing an original in a mold, producing a metallic duplicate we ves3. The method of manufacture of artificial,

teeth which consists in forming a metallic duplicate of the original'ina composition of lead and zinc, coating said duplicate electrolyticallywith nickel, remov ing coated dupli cate from the electrolytic bath,casting a backing on said nickel coating, removing the metallicduplicates and pressin a plastic mass into the cavities left on saidremoval,

substantially as described.

' 4:. The method of manufacture of artificial teeth which consists informing a metallic duplicate thereof, coating said duplicateelectrolytically, removing said coated duplicate from the electrolyteattvarious stages, forming fresh enlarged metal copies therefrom,replacing said coated duplicate in the electrolyte, removin saidmetallic duplicate from the electro yte when thickly coated, casting ametal backing thereon, removing the metallic duplicate and pressing aplastic mass into the cavities left on said removal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

mnmreu AUGUST wunmm. Witnesses:

Cant. Gianni), Juan GRUND.

